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If you’re job hunting in social housing or housing management right now, you’re entering a sector that’s hiring under intense pressure - from rising resident expectations, tougher regulation, and a relentless focus on safe, decent, well-managed homes.
The upside as a jobseeker: demand is strong for people who can combine service, compliance, and operational delivery. The challenge: employers are increasingly selective about evidence, professionalism, and “real-world” capability.
This guide breaks down the current landscape, the biggest trends shaping hiring, and how to position yourself for interviews in 2026.
The Sector Snapshot: Why Housing Teams are Under Pressure
Social landlords are balancing three competing priorities at once:
Strong demand for affordable homes
England delivered 43,058 new affordable homes for rent in 2024/25, the highest since 2014/15 - but demand continues to outstrip supply.
Rising homelessness and temporary accommodation use
Temporary accommodation remains a major pressure point: the UK Parliament Commons Library reports 132,410 households in temporary accommodation at the end of June 2025, with London accounting for a large share.
(And the statutory homelessness data highlights how concentrated this is in some areas - e.g., London borough-level rates.)
Housing conditions are still headline-risk
The English Housing Survey shows damp remains a significant issue, with local authority homes among the most likely to have damp (9%) and housing association dwellings at 5% (EHS 2023/24).
What this means for your job search: teams are being built around repairs performance, compliance, resident experience, and risk management - not just “tenancy management” in the traditional sense.
The Biggest Trend in 2026: Tougher Regulation + Measurable Accountability
A major shift is already in motion: since 1 April 2024, the Regulator of Social Housing (RSH) moved to a more proactive approach to consumer regulation, backed by the Social Housing (Regulation) Act 2023.
Then came a further inflection point:
Awaab’s Law is now live - and it changes repairs and compliance roles
From 27 October 2025, Awaab’s Law introduced fixed timeframes for emergency hazards and damp/mould hazards that present a significant risk of harm, with further hazards planned to be added from 2026.
What employers want now: candidates who can show they understand:
compliance frameworks and evidence trails
escalation routes, communication standards, and record-keeping
how to work with contractors and internal repairs teams to hit time-bound obligations
If you can talk confidently about process, controls, and resident communication, you’ll stand out.
The “Skills Premium”: Where Hiring Demand is Strongest
Across housing associations, ALMOs, councils, and managing agents, the most sought-after profiles tend to cluster around five areas:
Repairs, damp/mould, disrepair and complaints performance
Why it’s hot: complaint volumes and scrutiny have surged, and repairs are frequently the centre of resident dissatisfaction.
Roles you’ll see: Repairs Coordinator, Disrepair Officer, Complaints Officer, Customer Resolution, Damp & Mould / Healthy Homes roles.
What to evidence in applications/interviews
examples of reducing overdue jobs / improving SLA performance
handling vulnerable residents and safeguarding sensitivities
writing clear updates, outcomes, and learning actions
Housing management with an income + enforcement edge
Why it’s hot: affordability pressures mean income collection and tenancy sustainability remain critical.
Roles: Income Officer, Neighbourhood Officer, ASB Officer, Tenancy Sustainment.
What to evidence
arrears outcomes (numbers matter)
negotiation, early intervention, and partnership working (DWP, local services)
balanced enforcement + empathy
Building safety and compliance governance
Why it’s hot: regulatory expectations keep rising — and boards need assurance through data and control.
Roles: Building Safety Coordinator/Manager, Compliance Officer, Fire Safety, Gas/Electrical compliance, Risk & Assurance.
What to evidence
audit readiness, tracking actions, reporting to stakeholders
contractor management and compliance scheduling
ability to translate technical risk into clear updates
Asset management and data-led investment planning
Why it’s hot: landlords must prove they understand their stock, risks, and investment priorities. The RSH’s Sector Risk Profile highlights ongoing sector-level risks and delivery pressures.
Roles: Asset Analyst, Stock Condition, Planned Works, Retrofit / Investment Programme.
What to evidence
Excel/data literacy, systems comfort, reporting
prioritisation logic (risk, resident impact, value for money)
Decarbonisation and retrofit delivery
Why it’s hot: funding and programmes continue through 2025–2028 under the Warm Homes: Social Housing Fund (formerly SHDF).
Roles: Retrofit Coordinator, Sustainability Officer, Programme Support, Contract/Commercial roles.
What to evidence
project coordination, stakeholder comms, contractor performance
resident engagement during works (a big differentiator)
What Hiring Managers are Really Screening for Now
In 2026, interview panels often test how you work, not just what you know. Expect scenario questions like:
“A resident reports damp and mould and says their child is unwell - what do you do in the first 24 hours?”
“A contractor missed an appointment twice - how do you recover service and document next steps?”
“A complaint escalates to the Ombudsman - what evidence would you pull and how do you show learning?”
The winning candidate profile usually includes:
resident-first communication (clear, calm, consistent)
process discipline (notes, dates, evidence, follow-ups)
confidence with systems and data (case management, repairs systems, dashboards)
stakeholder management (contractors, internal teams, councillors/boards where relevant)
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How to tailor your CV for social housing roles right now
Use “proof” language
Instead of: “Managed repairs and complaints.”
Try: “Managed a caseload of X repairs/complaints, improved SLA compliance from X to Y, and reduced repeat visits by X% through better diagnosis and contractor challenge.”
Mirror the sector’s current priorities
Include keywords like:
compliance / consumer standards / complaints code
damp & mould / disrepair / HHSRS awareness
safeguarding / vulnerability / trauma-informed communication
contract management / performance monitoring
data quality / reporting / continuous improvement
Add credibility signals
If relevant, mention:
CIH learning, housing qualifications, or targeted CPD
experience with core systems (e.g., Northgate, Aareon/QL, Civica, Capita - only if true)
examples of partnership work (local authority, health, charities, DWP)
Where This Leaves Jobseekers: Your Opportunity in 2026
Despite the pressure on the sector, this is a strong market for candidates who can demonstrate:
service delivery under regulation
customer resolution with empathy
operational grip (cases, timelines, evidence)
data confidence and continuous improvement
If you can show those four things - even from adjacent sectors (local government, property, facilities, contact centres, compliance, construction admin) - you can compete.
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